Turkey: Whether a person with a Turkish residence permit can return to Turkey following a prolonged absence from Turkey (six months or more), the steps that must be taken to enter and remain in Turkey; whether it is possible to obtain permanent residence status in Turkey, and the government's policy concerning the issuance of residence permits to Iranians
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 2 December 2002 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | TUR40679.E |
| Reference | 1 |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Turkey: Whether a person with a Turkish residence permit can return to Turkey following a prolonged absence from Turkey (six months or more), the steps that must be taken to enter and remain in Turkey; whether it is possible to obtain permanent residence status in Turkey, and the government's policy concerning the issuance of residence permits to Iranians, 2 December 2002, TUR40679.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3f7d4e2931.html [accessed 25 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
Specific information on whether a person with a Turkish residence permit can return to Turkey following a prolonged absence from the country (of six months or more) could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate. However, on 20 March 2002 the Turkish Daily News reported that the Turkish Parliamentary Commission approved a draft law concerning the issuance of work permits. According to the article, "the bill states that the work permits of foreigners with invalid residence permits and passports will be cancelled. Foreigners who stay abroad for a period of over six months, except under certain conditions, will also lose their permits" (Turkish Daily News 20 Mar. 2002). Information on whether the bill was implemented could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.
According to the Web Site, Turkish Pages, foreigners wishing to stay in Turkey longer than one month require a residence permit (2000). To obtain either a residence or work permit, it is necessary to apply to a Turkish Embassy or Consulate prior to arriving in Turkey (Turkish Pages 2000). Residence permits are valid for a maximum period of one year but can be extended with a "valid cause" (ibid.). The Web Site also indicates that "foreigners with residence permits should apply to the security authorities in case they wish to leave Turkey for a temporary period" (ibid.).
Commenting on the expulsion of Azerbaijani guest workers from Turkey whose visas have expired, an aide to the Turkish consul in the Naxcivan Autonomous Republic reportedly stated that "not only Azerbaijanis but all others whose visas have expired are prohibited from returning to Turkey" (ANS TV 13 Feb. 2001).
Information on whether it is possible to obtain permanent residency in Turkey could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.
Information on the government's policy concerning the issuance of residence permits to Iranians could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate. However, an essay entitled "Globalization, Security, and Migration: The Case of Turkey" which was published in the 1 July 2000 issue of Global Governance, stated that
... Turkey provides an illustrative case in which the nation-state lacks an effective migration policy and treats migrants – especially those from the Southeast Asian and Middle East regions – as a security threat to its national integrity and territoriality.
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
References
ANS Television. 13 February 2001. "Foreign Minister Says Azeri Guest Workers Should Abide by Turkish Law." (BBC Summary 15 Feb. 2001/NEXIS)
Global Governance. 1 July 2000. No. 3, Vol. 6. Ahmet Icduygu and E. Fuat Keyman. "Globalization, Security, and Migration: The Case of Turkey." (NEXIS)
Turkish Daily News [Ankara, in English]. 20 March 2002. "Govt Facilitates Work Permit for Foreigners." (Global News Wire - Asia Africa Intelligence Wire/NEXIS)
Turkish Pages. 2000. "Residence and Work Permit." Additional Sources Consulted
The Embassy of Turkey did not respond to a letter requesting information within time constraints.
World News Connection
Internet sites, including:
Asylum Law Country Conditions Reports International Helsinki Federation, Human Rights in the OSCE Region: The Balkans, the Caucasus, Europe, Central Asia and North America Turkish Press Turkey Update United States Committee for Refugees Annual Country Reports: Turkey 2002 Search engine:
Google
